Garment finishing device



Feb. 1, 1949. R, W, BRENNER ET AL 2,460,732

GARMENT FINISHING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2V INVENTORS ROBERT W. BRENNER & JOHN R. PETRE Feb. 1, 1949. R. w. BRENNER Er Al.

GARMENT FINISHING DEVICE 5 sheets-sheet s Filed June l1, :Q47

FIG.- i4

FIG-l5 FIG-I6 ROBERT W JOHN BY FIG-i7 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 GARMENT FINISHING DEVICE Robert W. Brenner, Foster, and John R. Petre,

Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The American Laundry Machinery'v ICompany, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 11, 1947,` Serial No. 753,950

This invention relates to garment nishing devices, such as are used for steaming, drying and otherwise iinishin'g dresses, coats and other articles of Wearing apparel. Speaking generally, the device is of that type in which the article to be nished is dressed upon an expansible form by means of which either steam or hot air may be forced through the garment to set its shape and improve'its external appearance.

One object of the invention is to provide im proved and more positive and convenient means for producing and controlling bag expansion and for enabling the form, with the `garment dressed thereon, to be rotated about a vertical axis so that any side thereof may be presented to the operator.`

Another object is to improve the form and arrangement of the top section upon which the body portion of the garment is dressed, and more 4 particularly in such fashion as to enable the device to accommodate either extra long or small dresses and nevertheless with suicient backing for all parts of the garment, thus avoiding wrinkles or an unfinished appearance.

Still another object is to provide an improved garment nishing form including an extensible top section, a rigid bosom support, collapsible or adjustable shoulder supports and a shaped neck support, as well as otherfeatures hereinafter described more in detail.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part Will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings,` which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly' broken out and in section, showing the form inilated and expanded;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a part of the form with the bag deflated or collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, on a smaller scale, showing the top expanded and the shoulder pieces erected;

Fig. 4 is a full scale sectional plan view on the line ,II-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on the line !i--5,`

Fig. 1, the dot-dash lines indicating the position of a skirt stretched on the form;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, on a larger scale, on the line 6 6, Fig. 1, showing the form ribs and sheath;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a rib and arm joint;

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation, showing the rib holding or clamping mechanism;

8 Claims. (Cl. 22S-J70) Vincludes a pedestal I Fig. 9 .is a sectional planview on the line 9 9,

Fig. 10 is a detail front elevation, partly broken out and in section,` showing the mounting for the upper form member;V

Fig. l1 is a detail section on the'line II-II,

Fig. 10; Y

Fig. l2 is asectional view of the extension bar which supports the lupper form member;`

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the upper form member, the fabric cover'therefor being omitted;

Fig. 14 isan-enlarged front elevation,` partly broken away and in section, vof the upper form member, showing 'the shoulder supports collapsed; l

Fig. 15 is a partial front elevation showing the form fully collapsed;

Fig. 16 is a sectional plan view on'the line I6-I6,Fig.1;and

Fig; 17 is a detail View showing the steam control pedal and the latch therefor.

The nishing apparatusshown in the drawings on which is rotatably mounted a dress form consisting of a lower skirt supporting member, marked generally `2`,.and an upper body supporting member, marked generally 3. These parts will be described separately, in the order named.

The pedestal I includes a shallow hollow base 4 designed to rest upon the floor or other support and to house orenclose certain operating mecha-- nism' later described. Upon the base is mounted a casing 5 enclosing a hot air chamber Shaving a top discharge opening I surrounded by a ring or flange 8. Radial spokes 9 Within the ring support a heavy collar I0 which serves as the support for the form.

lAt one side the casing 5 is provided with an air supply opening II (Fig. 16) communicating with the discharge passage in conduit I2 from an air'pump or blower I3, on the casingA of which is supported the blower driving electric motor I4. A side opening I5 in conduit I2, which is normally open, may be closed at will by the operator, bymeans of a pivoted damper. I6 biased to open position by spring I I and havinglan" arm I8' connected by link I9 to a foot treadle 20 (Fig. 1). This treadle, when depressed, may be releasably latched down by a latch 2l, biased toward latching position by spring 22. Y l

When the damper I6 lies in the normal dotdash position, Fig. 16, the air flowing through blower I3 is deflected by the damper, outwardly through the opening I5, and is not supplied to the heating chamber.. This deected airstream may be directed away from the operator by a deflector plate 23 outside the opening.

By depressing treadle 20, the damper is moved to the full line position, Fig. 16, when all air passing through the blower is delivered to the heating chambery and .,.then .tothe garment. 1 .Adjustment of the treadleit intermediate positions?A maybe resortedto for varying the quantity of the air supply. When the treadle is fully depressed, asi shown in' Fig. 1, the latch 2| automatically moves 4 moved inwardly to contract the form by downward movement of the slider on the shaft.

Each rib of the expansible and contractible rirame is enclosed by -stitching 48 (Fig. 6) within an elongated sheath or envelope 49 of an elon- ,gatedfabricpag' 50, th envelope being closed lower efigidrf Bag to latching position, from which it may be kickedv lf off by the operators foot to release the. damper,

and enable it to return to ri'orrrialuposition.Av

Within heating chamber.v ,6is;fa .steam heater.n

- for the air supply. This comprises a hollowv Q Y n 'madegof anyA suitable stronge'xible porous material, such as a web of muslin or sheeting, its open lower end fitting.

snugly around the outer ring 39, to which it mayflb'eireinovably secured by a coil "spring 5|.

A, Betweemthe Aring 39,.and the lower end or hem steam pot 24, ribbed externally at 25, and provided with a steam chamber23 to which steam l is supplied by a conduit 21, the condensate beings. y

conducted to a suitable steam trap (not shown) by, way of dischargepipeZ-S. The inner wall 29 "of the steam pot is of dish shape,` providing a ,heated v.surface exposed tov the cavity 30 into l/wli'ch extends the end of asteam `pipe 3|. This communicates, by way of normally closed whistle valve-'32,with the` steamchamber 26. Valve 32 Vis connected by link 33 with an operating treadle ,.34 (Fig. 17) biased upwardly byspring 35 and` capable of beingdepressedto open the valve. yA

@portion ofwthefskirft forming portion of thebag fwegvprovide anexpansion section 52 of surplus :1.5i

material, while-the open narrower upper end of the bag is drawn over the escalloped ring 44 IVand is' hel'd in place/by a draw string (not shown).

when the bag is expanded by the air pressure within it, the ribs 45 limit outward bag movement,.,but the extra. material betweenadjacent iribsballoons,or 'bulges outwardly in vescallopecl .-Means is 'provided for operating the"s1iding collar jill."licnf` .this purpose saidjcollar carries 'tw'o rods .53,- 54,which slidefreelyinopenings in `ai guide pl'atej5`5' fixed to post ,31, 'and `which also .extend through openings"56,51 lockplate E spring pressed multiple-tooth latch 36 holds the `t'rea'dle,inlany.one ofseveral depressed positions, rthusf'tdmaintainsteamsupply to the heated surface', at any desired rate.` Condensate comingV with Vthesteani or formedin .cavity .30 .is

58' hinged Yat (i3 to`pl1ate55 and biased upwardly toward the incline'd1p0sitionv shown in'l'ig.r 8 Vvby `a tensionspring 601 -vLoczk jplate 56' is pivotally ',connect'ed'; at its'outerj'e'nd; to one end' of` ay toggle vaporized by its heated ioor,v so that onlydrygf;4

steamfrises through opening 1. L atch35 4may be released in the same manner as latch 2|.

Assumingthat the steam supply, to conduit '21'isV turned on, air suppliedto the chamber y| by the blower is. heated as, it ows past the steam,-

pot, and is discharged upwardly v'through the opening 1.. Dry steam may y,also be discharged 'through saidlopening by opening the whistle 1,32., Both fair,V and steam enter the chamber tebejdsribea andere thusj distributed by it "fo'r flow toand "through a garment. dressed vupon V,thie'fornL n i The skirt-supporting member 2 of the vform attached` thereto. `'I'Jneframe includesa strong central; tubular shaft 31, upon the lower` end portion. of which isv adjustably mounted the sleeve formfbearing,hub 38*` of a ring 39 vattached to fthe .hollow .skirtv portion of the form now;`

link l", the lcooperating link 32 therefor being pivotedatjtV to 'axedpartl'o'f post 31'. At the toggle knuckle is located agood sizedthumb plate 64 adapted for'depression bythe operator to more or lessstraighten the. toggle andrelease v the lock.

" vThe"ilcki'rrg mechanism' describedpperates `somewhatjater'themanner of atransom lock. fIn the normal position Otheparts, with spring t3 `fully eise'ctive `on lock platef 58,'rise ol? rods "53,454A and-ring 51 and outward'm'ovement of "ribs"45- are prevented :'and'bag'` expansion is limited. Bag collapse'is not possible ybecause spring vSllpevents rods 53, 54 from' sliding downwardly 'throughfthe lock'plate until releas'ebutton 64 *is pressetll,` Then,'=when` no-'air or steam,` is being l'smapued' te the bag, the' Weight ofV the parts, 1n- 'cluding'thefbag ribs and ring 4'1 is slicient to collapse the bag. Or, it may beV collapsed by the -eiorti-of the operatoragainst the" air or steam pressure. But, vwhen plate 64 is depressedv to reto shaft 31 byV a Sel? screw 4| in such, position that theshaft end enters hubl l0 when the bearing sleeve rests. upon'theghub. This arrangement]enables the-.form to be readily turned about lease the lock, air pressure or steamr pressure within' they bag 'will expand it so farias'outward movement of the ribs'ispermitted, i'. e., to'a f point v"where rthe -rods- '465 extend horizontally. tThearrangement described supplies unusually 'the vertical axis, although the friction between@- 1 'members l0, `38 holds the form inany position Tand., does away..with the latches thatmight be Vvffneoessary"with aball bearing mount, for example. yRing V39 closely. hugs or fits ring",|l;to

,effectively seal ,the joint between. them against' Upon the-upper. endv of shaft 31. is mounted -a y bag-supporting.member consistingV of .a hub-*42 `fastened.tothe shaft;4 radiating spokes 43` (Fig. 4) and an escalloped ring `44. To the ring is piv- -otallyconnectd-ia series of depending ribs 45,

v-feachiconnect'e'd at1a'd`etachable' joint 45a, "(like Y the ribsr 1ofanlumbrellalf to f a" downwardly simple and convenient means for controlling bag fexpansic'an during Aa garment finishing operation. While the controlfb'uttonor plate -254 is within Athefbagf and henceinvisible to the operator, it "--i's-flrocatedat' theffrontfof'the formkjust belowA the waist line and hence at a spotwhere'he-"can alwaysh'strike it without hesitation.

Assuming the bag fully collapsed, asfin Fig. 2,

by depressing treadle 211.'` 1"Ihen',"with 'his hand,

hel taps repeatedly! lonfvtheicontrcl button 64;: each fifi pmomentarily releasing' the lock 'and' permitting some, but not total, expansion4 ofthe bag.

expansion,y limited and under full contrl`,*he"qael' mits'the"A bag' 'to expai'isdfuntil it comfortably. lls the garment, contactingiwithiti'ofcourse; only at the crests of the bulges or arches between the ribs `45. Inthis manner it is possible toinsure that the garment` is not unduly stretched,. that no wrinkles are produced, andthat all in all the garment is n`ot distorted. After'turning off the air, the steam valve is opened to steam the vgarment, its surface is brushed, its lay. is corrected if necessary, and, finally, the steam is turned oli and hot air is supplied to dry the garment, as is usual. When fully dry, the airis turnedoil and the garment is removed. i I i The present'apparatus may also include an upper or body supporting member which cooperates with the bag in finishing coats, dresses or other full length garments. This member is marked generally 3, in Fig. 1. It includes acentral supportingl post extension 65,l of square cross section, having a lower end portion 66 designed to iit and enter al like Vshaped recess inthe upper end of post31. Several recesses 61 (Figs. 11,12) are spaced along one side of the extension 65 to receive a yieldable latch ball 68 biased by spring 69, enabling the body supporting member 3 of the form to be adjusted to various levels with reference to the skirt-supporting member 2, as shown in Fig. 3. By this .means the formj as a whole may be lengthened to take care of an unusually long dress, for example. 1 l

The rod extension 65 supports a light hollow frame including reinforcing rods `1l) uponwhich are mounted panels 1| made of hardware or wire cloth and shaped to simulate the conventional torso. The front, or bosom, in addition may have a covering 1la of .iine copper screen to provide a fairly smooth surface which will not mark th garment. i

`A vflexible `porous cloth bag 12 covers the upper section from the neck line to the waist. But it is not free to expand in all directions since it is fastened to the entire bosom'or iront panel, beingi simply a smooth,tightly fitting cover therefor. The sides and back, however, are loose and full and are inflatable, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The rigid bosom supplies a firm backing against which lapels, pockets, etc. may be laid smoothly for superior finishing.

Fig. 3 shows the top inflated, even though widely separated from the bottom. Thisispossible because ring 44 is open vat'its center, and the garment waist closes the gap between sections 2 and 3, so that both air and steam flow freely to the space within the top'section and will both fully expand it and supply the excess necessary for steaming and drying.

Fig. 14 also shows shoulder supports of collapsible form and a neck support-both arranged to correctly shape a wide range of sizes, the two being combined in a single unit.

Thebody of the unit isa hollow aluminum casting 13 shaped externally to support the neck and part of the shoulders of the garment. Internally it has a shallow annular recess 14 along its front, sides and back, to permit it to be smoothly joined to the bosom and back of the body form.

Upon member 13 are pivotally mounted two shoulder pieces or bars 15, each having a shortv lateral arm 16 pivoted to one of two toggle links 11 joined together and to an operating rod .18 at 19. Shoulder pieces 15 are biased to collapsed or retracted position by a tension spring 80, but may be extended or adjusted outwardly by press ing down on a knob or handle 8| loosely threaded upon the upper end of rod 18. This knob has a slotted latch plate 82 on its under face which,

'of wood and covering the exterior metal surfaces with flocking to produce a lsuede-like surface, indicated at 84, Fig. 13.

VThe apparatusdes'cribed is of simple form, may

be readily adjusted or adapted either to long or.

to. short garments, or to garments of various sizes, enables the operator to prepare the garment for nishing4 by the exercise of controlled bag expansion, supplies a rigid bosom against which lapels or pockets may be laid, properly supports and shapes the neck and shoulders, and enables the garment to be rotated about the vertical axis for` access to all sides. Other advantages of the invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art.`

. What we claimis:

l. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising a skirt supporting `member including a flexible porous lower bag upon which the skirt portion of a garment may be. dressed for finishing, a'support for said bag, means for supplying a treating fluid under pressure tothe space within said bag, and an upper body supporting member separate from the skirt supporting member and separably connected thereto, saidbody supporting member including foraminous front and back walls shaped to simulate the bosoml and back of the torso and spaced apart to provide side openings, anda flexible porous upper bag mounted upon and enclosing saidwalls.

2. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising `a skirt supporting member including a flexible porous lower bag lupon which the skirt portion of a garment may be dressed Afor iinishing, a support for said bag, means for supplying a treating iluid under pressure tothespace within said bag, and an upper body supporting member separate from the skirt 4supporting member and separably connected thereto, said body supporting memberincluding `foraminouspfront and back walls shaped to'simulate the bosom and back of the torso and spaced apart to provide side openings, and a exible porous upper bag mounted upon and enclosing saidwalls, vsaid body supporting member being adjustable vertically with reference to the skirt supporting member to accommodate garments var-yingin length.

3. Garment iinishing apparatus of the character described, comprising a skirt supporting member including a flexible porous lower bag upon which the skirt portion of a garment may be dressed for iinishing, a support for said bag, means for supplying a treating fluid under pressure to the space within said bag, and an upper body supporting member separate from the skirt supporting member and separably connected thereto, said body supporting member including foraminous front and back walls shaped to simulate the bosom and back o'f the torso and spaced apart to provide side openings, and a iiexible 

